AMERICAN PUBLIC MEDIA'S MARKETPLACE LAUNCHES WEALTH & POVERTY DESK
Contact:
Jackie Cartier
Phone: (651) 290-1113
jcartier@americanpublicmedia.org
AMERICAN PUBLIC MEDIA'S MARKETPLACE LAUNCHES WEALTH & POVERTY DESK
New desk provides groundbreaking content on the growing concentration of wealth in the U.S. and its causes and consequences
(St. Paul, Minn.) February 27, 2012 - This month, American Public Media's (APM) Marketplace launches the Wealth & Poverty Desk, which will provide groundbreaking content on the growing concentration of wealth in the U.S. and its causes and consequences for the economy and society. The Wealth & Poverty Desk is made possible by a grant from the Ford Foundation.
"Marketplace's Wealth & Poverty Desk will provide millions of Americans with the information and insights needed to make critical decisions, and help to empower people to change their lives and the communities they live in," said Jon McTaggart, American Public Media's president and CEO. "This reflects our deep commitment to important journalism that can expand perspectives and strengthen communities in every state, big city, small town and rural region in the country."
Using Marketplace's signature style, the Wealth & Poverty Desk goes beyond traditional media by exploring the human impact and creating a thoughtful conversation among Americans from different classes, races, and walks of life. Through on-air and online content, and unique partnerships, the Wealth & Poverty Desk aims to increase public awareness of the growing income and wealth gap, so all Americans can expand their perspectives and strengthen their communities.
"We believe that quality journalism examining issues of poverty and inequity - which are too often ignored by the media - enriches public understanding and debate," said Calvin Sims, Program Officer for the Ford Foundation's Freedom of Expression division. "To that end, the Ford Foundation is proud to support groundbreaking news programs like Marketplace."
Beginning immediately, reporting from the Wealth & Poverty Desk can be heard across Marketplace's portfolio of programming, starting this morning with a series of features on Marketplace Morning Report that lay out "The Fundamentals" of our coverage. Marketplace reporter Mitchell Hartman has prepared a series of primers that answer "What is Wealth?", "What is Poverty?", "What is the Middle Class?", and "What is the Wealth Gap?" Hartman's stories include the voices of top experts in the field and people from all levels of economic life in America, to lay the groundwork for our exploration.
To find where you can tune-in Marketplace in your area, visit Marketplace.org and click on "Local Air Times." To learn more about upcoming reporting from the Wealth & Poverty Desk, visit http://www.marketplace.org/wealth-poverty.
About Marketplace
Marketplace is produced and distributed by American Public Media (APM), in association with the University of Southern California. Public radio consists of more than 900 individually owned and operated public radio stations (or regional systems of stations). American Public Media is one of the largest producers of public radio programming in the world, with a portfolio reaching 16 million listeners via nearly 800 radio stations nationwide each week. In addition to APM, Public Radio International and National Public Radio distribute and produce national programs. For more information on Marketplace visit marketplace.org. For more information on American Public Media visit americanpublicmedia.org.
About American Public Media
American Public Media is one of the largest producers of public radio programming in the world, with a portfolio reaching 16 million listeners via more than 800 radio stations nationwide each week. Programs include A Prairie Home Companion, Marketplace, Performance Today, The Splendid Table, On Being, American RadioWorks and many others. American Public Media's 130,000 member-strong Public Insight Network promotes deep connections between journalists across the country and the communities they serve. American Public Media is the parent organization for Minnesota Public Radio, Southern California Public Radio and Classical South Florida. A complete list of stations, programs and additional services can be found at www.americanpublicmedia.org.
Source: Data are copyright Arbitron, Inc. Arbitron data are estimates only. Fall 2010/Spring 2011 average.